Woodford Reserve’s new Chocolate Malt Whisper Bourbon is the latest release in the brand’s annual Distillery Series, which Master Distiller Chris Morris created to push Woodford Reserve’s creative boundaries.
Chocolate Malt Whisper is so named because it’s the result of a happy accident at the distillery. It was produced immediately after the 2019 Master’s Collection Chocolate Malted Rye, and some of the flavor notes from that Malted Rye carried over into the distillate of the next batch. It influenced the flavor profile, resulting in a bourbon with a whisper of chocolate. Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall liked it so much, they decided to make it into a Distillery Series release.
“Sometimes unforeseen developments occur in the distillery that result in great flavors,” said Morris. “This is one of those cases.”
According to brand-provided tasting notes, Chocolate Malt Whisper has aromas of dark chocolate, dusty cocoa and roasted coffee beans, brightened with a hint of citrus oil and mint. On the palate, you’ll find smoky roasted cocoa, vanilla beans and dark chocolate sweetened with notes of caramel drizzled atop faint fruit and citrus notes. The finish lingers like a chocolate brittle walnut fudge brownie.
Woodford Reserve Chocolate Malt Whisper Bourbon is available in 375 mL bottles and is bottled at 45.2% ABV. It’s available for $49.99 at the Woodford Reserve Distillery’s gift shop and can also be found at select Kentucky retailers.
